Team Mummbles has come through big-time for the Annapolis Leukemia Cup. Boat owner Brad Kauffman estimates the crew has raised at least $3,000 for the charity ever year it has participated.

Team Mummbles outdid itself this year, ranking as the top fundraiser by soliciting a whopping $7,425 in total contributions. Longtime crew member Bill Natter spearheaded the impressive performance, which was inspired by 7-year-old Annie Benson.

Annie is the daughter of Sam Benson, another Mummbles veteran who has sailed with Kauffman since 1996. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia last year and has been undergoing treatment since.

“This event has always topped the Team Mummbles to-do list because we really care about the cause,” Kauffman said. “However, this year it really hit home because of Annie and her situation. That brought a personal touch that really motivated all of us. Bill Natter deserves a ton of credit for his great organizational skills and networking.”

The start of the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race was held Friday in the Chesapeake Bay just south of the Bay Bridge.

(Paul W. Gillespie)

Kauffman, Natter and the rest of the Mummbles crew were awarded a trophy as top fundraising boat and promptly presented it to Annie, who is currently in remission and progressing well due largely to an early diagnosis.

“Mummbles had a passionate and committed crew with a compelling story that, simply put, appealed to many,” Natter said when asked about the successful fundraising effort. “We wanted to show our appreciation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and its supporters for past contributions to eliminate all forms of blood cancer. We were humbled by the response we received and thankful to all those that donated.”

A total of 92 boats in 14 classes participated in the 26th annual Annapolis Leukemia Cup Regatta, held last Saturday on the Chesapeake Bay. Corinne Mayers, senior campaign manager for the Maryland Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, reports that a total of $214,228 was raised through the various events associated with this year’s regatta.

Members of the Harbor 20 class once again came through in grand fashion, combining to raise $30,330. Annapolis Yacht Club member John Heintz, owner of Endurance, was a one-man force of nature as he raised an incredible $18,550. Heintz is a leukemia survivor and has annually expressed his gratitude to LLS for its vigilance in raising awareness and supporting research that helps combat blood cancers.

Harbor 20 class showed up strong on and off the water with 20 boats competing in the 26th annual Leukemia Cup, which was held in light winds ranging from 4 to 7 knots. An ebb current that ultimately increased to two knots was a huge tactical factor.

Bell Carty steered Puffin to a solid score line of 1-1-2 to top the Harbor 20 class. Charlie Carty, a 16-year-old junior at Archbishop Spalding, crewed for his mother – a relative newcomer to the class.

“This is our first year in the Harbor 20 and it has been one of the most wonderful classes I’ve ever been part of,” said Carty, who bought the boat with her father George. “It is a very welcoming class, a multi-generational class, a real family-oriented class.”

George and Bell Carty regularly compete in the Annapolis Yacht Club Wednesday Night Racing series and the Eastport Yacht Club Beer Can Series with 14-year-old son Hugh often steering for the latter. While Hugh Carty has been actively racing in the Optimist class, his older brother had burned out on the sport. However, the fun, relaxed atmosphere of the Harbor 20 class has rekindled Charlie’s interest.

“This fleet has really turned things around for Charlie and he’s now enjoying sailing again. I owe a heartfelt thank you to all the Harbor 20 sailors for that,” Bell Carty said.

Mummbles could not quite duplicate its fundraising success on the race course, finishing as runner-up in PHRF Spinnaker class after losing a tiebreaker with fellow Farr 30 Blockade Runner, skippered by Bruce Bingman.

“Current was the key as it turned out. It was just beginning to ebb at the start of the first race and we originally intended to start at the pin and extend to the left,” Bingman explained. “We won the start and began to leg a little on Mummbles and the rest of the fleet, but thought we saw better breeze on the right so tacked away. We did find better breeze, but the ebb had built more quickly than we anticipated and Mummbles was able to build a four-boat-length lead.”

Blockade Runner switched to its new medium-light jib for the second race and that proved to be the secret weapon. Having learned their lesson in Race 1, Dodge and Bingman decided to dig deep to the left to avoid the adverse current during the upwind leg.

Bingman and wife Taran Teague have been heavily involved with the Leukemia Cup ever since it was founded in 1993 and originally hosted by Rhode River Boat Club. In fact, Bingman served as race committee chair while Teague was principal race officer for the inaugural Annapolis Leukemia Cup.

“There is a reason why sailors rally around the Leukemia Cup. It is because so many families have seen someone near and dear impacted by leukemia. That is why I got involved,” said Teague, who had a close friend die from the disease in the early 1990s.

“Today, there are many people who are diagnosed with leukemia or a related blood disease, are treated and survive. In a small way, everyone who has supported the Leukemia Cup regattas is helping to make a difference.”

Skipper John White and his crew aboard USA 113 won both races in J/105 class, which attracted 10 entries. White said sailing in light air was not as difficult as normal around Annapolis because last Saturday featured flat water due to surprisingly little recreational boat traffic.

“Finding and staying in what little breeze we had out there was critical,” added White, whose crew consisted of Barbara Vosbury (trimmer), Chip Carr (trimmer), Kevin White (foredeck) and David Forrester (middle).